Could this happen to your business?

While we may strive for perfection, making mistakes is a part of the human condition. But since your clients rely on you to get the job done, a mistake in your line of work could be costly. Public Liability Insurance allows you to cover yourself if, and when, you do slip up in your day-to-day operations. Accidents can happen at any time. Some of our customers can attest to that!

Here is a real-life claim example:

A landscape gardener who was working at a private residence needed to use a garden power tool to complete the required work. Whilst operating the machine he accidentally lost control of it damaging the side of his client’s house. The landscape gardener’s insurer quickly agreed that he was negligent, as the damage arose out of the operation of the insured’s business activity. They settled the claim with the homeowner’s own insurer within one week. Most importantly however, the homeowner has continued to hire the landscape gardener despite the incident as the matter was able to be settled easily and quickly due to the landscape gardener’s Public Liability cover.**

What does Public Liability Insurance cover?

No matter if your business is big or small, Public Liability insurance provides peace of mind for claims for third party property damage or personal injury.

Public Liability insurance protects your business by providing compensation for property damage and personal injury or death in circumstances not covered by the Accident Compensation Commission (ACC).

The ACC looks after most of the exposure in NZ for accidental personal injury, however it doesn’t provide protection for businesses that export their products. It also doesn’t cover claims for food poisoning, an area which food and hospitality businesses need protection in.

Some examples include:

• The costs to repair or replace damaged property- for example if you were on the job renovating a client’s home and cause damage to their property.
• Cover for injury claims- Public Liability insurance typically provides compensation for personal injury or death to third parties where the ACC does not provide cover
• Legal and defence costs- covers the applicable legal costs related to the cost of defending your claim

Protect your business today.

FAQs

What is difference between Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance?

Public Liability insurance protects you and your business against the financial implications if you are found liable for loss or damage to other people’s property, or cause illness or injury that is not covered by the Accident Compensation Commission (ACC).

Professional Indemnity Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance is an important form of protection for businesses that provide specialist services or professional advice. It is designed to respond to claims against your business for losses as a result of actual or alleged negligent acts or omissions in the provision of your professional service or advice. PI Insurance will also assist with the legal costs associated with responding to or managing claims which are covered by the policy.

How much does Public Liability Insurance cost?

There are a whole host of factors that are taken into consideration when calculating the cost of a Public Liability insurance policy.

With such a wide range of industries and occupations that require Public Liability insurance, the cost of a policy can vary considerably, determined by a number of key factors which may include:

• Your occupation
• The type and nature of your business activities
• Your business turnover and size
• The amount of insurance cover your business requires
• Other factors that could affect the cost of your Public Liability policy include the location of your business, the inclusions and exclusions of your policy, and the insurance provider you select.

How do I make a claim on my insurance policy?

Need to make a Public liability claim? No worries at all! We’re here to assist you through the process and get you back to business. Simply download, complete the Claim Notification Form and return to claims@bizcover.co.nz. We’ll manage the process with the insurer for you, while our dedicated claims consultants keep you informed every step of the way. Alternatively, if you would like to contact us by phone, our customer service team are here to help you on Ph. 0508 249 268.

*This information is a general guide only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. As with any insurance, cover will be subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions contained in the policy wording. The information contained on this web page is general only and should not be relied upon as advice. BizCover Limited is owned by BizCover Pty Ltd (ABN 68 127 707 975)

**The provision of the claims examples are for illustrative purposes only and should not be seen as an indication as to how any potential claim will be assessed or accepted. Cover for a claim will depend on the specific circumstances around the loss and would be subject to the terms and conditions of the policy concerned. As with any insurance, cover will be subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions contained in the policy wording. The information contained in this article is general only. Coverage for claims on the policy will be determined by the insurer, not BizCover, and will depend on the specific facts and circumstances involved.